Tides turn like they always do.
And when the turning force came bringing with it the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Project LAWA and BINHI to the coastal communities of Paypayon and Mabuhay in the town of Oras in Eastern Samar, the towns folk made sure it would create more crests than just another passing wave.
By rolling up their sleeves, tilling the forgotten soil, and building crab cages, the Oras townsfolk were able to boost their livelihood in full embrace of government aid that reached out to them.
But this time, it was more than a quest for survival, but a promise of a bountiful season for all.
Fishing for dignity
Crab farming was once a desperate game of chance for the association of crab trappers from Barangay Paypayon.
The crab farmers used to venture into murky waters with makeshift gears. There was no certainty, only the hope that the day’s catch would be enough.
Such dire situation radically changed when LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) arrived in their community in 2024.
The DSWD’s Project LAWA and BINHI is an initiative that focuses on food security and climate resilience. It empowers local communities to cultivate agricultural and develop freshwater sources.
“Nakakatulong sa bawat pamilya sa mga miyembro namin, nakakatulong ang Project LAWA. Kasi dito na kami kumukuha ng tanim namin, dito na kami kukuha ng gulayin tapos bebenta namin, dito naman makakakuha kami ng alimango, isda,” Christopher Adorna, the president of the Barangay Paypayon Crab Trappers’ Association, told the #Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP) team in an interview.
Now, the community fattens their crabs over 18 days in cages before harvesting. Under the capacity-building and training opportunities that came with the project, the association’s farming techniques were greatly enhanced, leading to more yields.
Aside from the help extended to the main livelihood source in their area, a patch of land also blossomed into a vibrant community garden beside the river.
Common vegetables such as okra, ampalaya, eggplant, patola, and stringbeans (sitaw) sprouted from recycled containers and compost-rich soil that have been cultivated by the beneficiaries themselves.
This development opened more livelihood opportunities for the association of crab trappers, as shared by Melanie Norombaba, the secretary of the association.
“Nakaharvest kami no’n. Marami kaming harvest non ma’am. Nakabili kami ng baboy nakapag-share po kami ng mga Php10,000 siguro, ma’am. Kunyare, ngayon magha-harvest kami no’n maliban sa pondo na magshe-share out malaking tulong talaga yung Project LAWA,” Melanie told KPAP.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kasi yung tulong ng DSWD, maraming natulungan saka may aral din sa amin. Yung pang-araw-araw namin, di na kami bumibili ng ulam nandyan na, nakabenta na kami, may pagkain pa kami,” Melanie continued as she professed her gratitude to the changes the project brought into their lives.
From dumpsite to food haven
If Paypayon’s garden is inspiring, the story in Barangay Mabuhay is as poetic as the shift of the name of a local garbage dump repurposed into a productive green space.
From being called ‘Hapilan,’ which is the Bisayan term of dumpsite, the community named it to Hafeland, short for Haven for Food and Environment — now coming with a more pleasant and positive ring to the ears.
“Doon po sa Hafeland is nagha-harvest na ’yung ating mga beneficiaries for their daily consumption and needs. At the same time, if may excess po for commercial use, nagiging source din po ng extra income nila,” Jelyn Donceras said, a social welfare officer from the Oras Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) who was part of the necessary program groundwork.
What was once a place of waste is now a vibrant symbol of rebirth, bringing fresh, nutritious crops from farm tables to home cooked meals.
Through it all, the DSWD’s presence went beyond financial assistance.
DSWD personnel and partner local government units (LGUs) helped organize meetings and collaborated with other government agencies to train partner-beneficiaries.
Everyone made sure that beneficiaries are treated as partners, given the voice to shape projects that would benefit them the most, while empowering them with both knowledge and tools to level up their ventures.
“Maganda na tinutulungan kami rito at palaging may bumubisita sa amin na DSWD, DA [Department of Agriculture] yung nagpasimuno dito sa aming proyekto,” said Joey Pomarca, the Vice President for the Paypayon Crab Trappers Association.
Now, the communities of Paypayon and Mabuhay are on their ‘winning season,’ with better techniques and higher produce both from livelihood that raised them and will soon give life to their future.
Salvador Dalosa, the municipal agriculturist of Oras, Eastern Samar is happy that the farmers have deepened their knowledge on the need to schedule their harvests, prepare natural fertilizers, and alternate their crops for sustainability.
“We believe in the power of people empowerment. Kasi ang lahat ng ito eventually will become an income generating project ng associations. So, pag nakita na natin na kaya na nila, we will detach from them until such time na kaya na nilang maging independent,” Salvador said.
From Hapilan to Hafeland, from crabs to crops, this is the story of how communities rise and how government aid can bring the best out of a community when nurtured, cultivated and embraced from the ground up.
The #KPAP, the DSWD’s award winning online documentary, is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) which are under the Strategic Communications. It is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (LSJ)